An electromyographic assessment pilot study on the reliability of the forearm muscles during multi-planar maximum voluntary contraction grip and wrist articulation in young males

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Hunter, Henry H.^{a; b} | Sorbie, Graeme G.^c | Grace, Fergal M.^d | Gu, Yaodong^a | Lam, Wing-Kai^{e; f} | Baker, Julien S.^{a; g} | Dutheil, Frédéric^{h; i} | Dias, Tilak^j | Ugbolue, Ukadike C.^{a; b; k; *}

Affiliations: [a] Faculty of Sports Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China | [b] School of Health and Life Sciences, Institute for Clinical Exercise and Health Science, University of the West of Scotland, Lanarkshire, UK | [c] Division of Sport and Exercise Sciences, School of Applied Sciences, Abertay University, Dundee, UK | [d] Faculty of Health, Human Movement and Sport Sciences, Federation University Australia, Ballarat, VIC, Australia | [e] Li Ning Sports Science Research Center, Li Ning (China) Sports Goods Co. Ltd, Beijing, China | [f] Department of Kinesiology, Shenyang Sports Institute, Shenyang, Liaoning, China | [g] Centre for Health and Exercise Science Research, Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China | [h] CNRS, LaPSCo, Physiological and Psychosocial Stress, University Hospital of Clermont-Ferrand, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Preventive and Occupational Medicine, WittyFit, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France | [i] Faculty of Health, School of Exercise Science, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia | [j] Advanced Textiles Research Group, School of Art and Design, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK | [k] Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Ukadike C. Ugbolue, Biomechanics Laboratory, School of Health and Life Sciences, Institute for Clinical Exercise and Health Science, University of the West of Scotland, Lanarkshire, G72 0LH, UK. Tel.: +44 1698 283100 Ext 8284; E-mail: u.ugbolue@uws.ac.uk.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Electromyographic systems are widely used in scientific and clinical practice. The reproducibility and reliability of these measures are crucial when conducting scientific research and collecting experimental data. OBJECTIVE: To test the reliability of surface electromyography signals from both the Flexor Digitorum Superficialis (FDS) and Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis (ECRB) muscles of both the left and right arms during an individual, static multi-planar maximum voluntary contraction handgrip task using the Myon 320 system (Myon AG, Switzerland). METHODS: Eight right-handed male participants performed two maximal handgrip tests in five separate wrist positions using both hands. Muscle activity was recorded from both forearms. Reliability was measured using the Standard Error of Measurement (SEM), Coefficient of Variation (CV) and Intra-class correlation coefficients. Wrist joint position correlations within and between the FDS and ECRB muscle activities were also analysed. RESULTS: Absolute reliability was shown across all positions for both hands with CV and SEM recorded at below 10%. The output measures indicate that the Myon 320 system (Myon AG, Switzerland) produces good to fair reliability when assessing forearm muscle activity. Correlations in the left FDS muscles were negative. Correlations between the left ECRB and left FDS muscles were variable but positive between the right ECRB and right FDS muscles. CONCLUSIONS: The data sets retrieved from all participants were reliably evaluated. Wrist position correlations within and between the FDS and ECRB muscles may have been influenced by hand dominance. The findings demonstrate that the methods and systems outlined in this study can be used reliably in future research.

Keywords: EMG, consistency, hand grip, FDS, ECRB

DOI: 10.3233/THC-212822

Journal: Technology and Health Care, vol. 30, no. 3, pp. 713-724, 2022